Dorris Keeven Franke

In September of 1833, two former students of the University of Giessen, Paul Follenius and Friedrich Muench would issue a Call for Emigration to find fellow Germans wanting to establish a colony in Missouri. Thousands would apply to join the newly formed Giessen Emigration Society that would depart the next year. Those chosen came from all walks of life, all over Germany and were of many different faiths. But they all had one thing in common, to settle in the Land where the Sun of Freedom Shines.

Five hundred would come to America the summer of 1834. Those on the ship the Olbers, included many German Catholics from the area of Belecke, would suffer tremendous loss when typhoid overtook the passengers before even passing the British Isles. Amazingly, those that survived, arrived in June in New Orleans, and made their way up the Mississippi River only to encounter…